“Zootopia 2” zooms into a zany adventure

“Zootopia 2” is a great follow-up to “Zootopia,” which hit theaters in 2016. It follows the characters Judy and Nick after their first case, showcasing the struggles of working with a new partner, especially one you might have feelings for. 

Watching the two try to protect each other and acting out of character to do so was definitely funny at times, and was a great way to move the plot along, as Judy’s recklessness often led to someone getting away and created tensions between the two. 

In one specific instance, Judy fails to pay attention to a warning and almost drowns underwater. Nick chooses to save her, rather than catch who they’re after, which angers Judy, who is all for the case. Nick, unable to tell her that he saved her out of love, escalates the conflict, and the two struggle to work together. This manifests itself many different times throughout the film, making it even more of a relief when they finally confess their feelings for each other. 

I love how the new movie draws attention to marginalized groups that are being pushed out of their homes by wealthier communities; the reptilian/water-dwelling community is being taken over by the wealthy and prestigious lynxes.

 It also addresses how a singular person (or animal) can persecute a community and weaponize fear in order to gain power and control.

On top of calling out political agendas in the real world, the show also had a fair amount of suspense, featuring multiple plot twists as well as one big one that shocked me. 

I definitely feel that this movie is worth watching and gave me some reassurance in a dark political time.